Not sure if this is possible, but I am looking at a WirelssAP-less and/or Wireless-router-less environment, where-in my Linux host uses a single WLAN-interface to have multiple point-to-point connections setup with couple of other WLAN devices (e.g. my media-player-device, my 2 phones etc.), yet provide WEP/WPA security. Note that the other devices do not need to have their traffic routed to the internet. All of those devices only need to talk to my Linux host, where an application is communication with the devices via TCP/IP.

If possible, would appreciate some pointers on how this is to be done. Does this have anything to do with the "infrastructure-mode" of wireless end-point setup ? Is that possible with a stock WLAN card (or WLAN module in a Notebook PC) ? Or, with external USB WLAN dongles etc. ?

thanks,
bdutta

MS3FGX

03-05-2011 10:01 PM

It sounds like you just want to do an Ad-Hoc network, but protect it with WEP/WPA. That's no problem, but your phones (and probably media player) won't be able to connect to an Ad-Hoc network, as they will only be setup for communicating with APs.

If you absolutely need to connect with devices like that (I.E. systems with "simplified" networking capabilities), you will need to get a WiFi card for the main machine that is capable of going into Master mode. This will create an AP which any WiFi-enabled device will be able to see and connect with.

Not all WiFi chipsets/drivers are capable of this, but the support isn't that rare either. We would need to know what WiFi hardware specifically you already had to say if something additional would be required.